If you know me at all, you’ve undoubtedly heard me speak – probably more than once – about Holy Infant parish in Ballwin, Missouri, where I grew up. The parish was the center of our family’s life, and the focal point of our community. It seemed as if everything revolved around the parish! Maybe that is why one of my greatest joys as Archbishop of New York is when I get to visit one of our nearly 300 parishes, celebrate Mass, and spend some time with the people.

This comes to you from the Shrine of Knock, in Ireland, on a pilgrimage with 150 others from the archdiocese and elsewhere.

It was here, on August 23, 1879, that our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, and the “Lamb of God” appeared to dozens of stunned, silent, awestruck parishioners of this tiny Irish town.

I am here as a pilgrim of gratitude. Four years ago, when we began the Making All Things New pastoral planning, I entrusted this long, delicate, painful but necessary endeavor to Jesus, through Mary and St. Joseph.